Wigan train against Cronulla ahead of Saturday’s International Double Header

Wigan to face Souths and Hull to take on the Dragons at ANZ Stadium on Saturday

Taulima Tautai said it was great to be back in Cronulla as the Warriors faced-off with the Sharks in an opposed training session.

With the Warriors in Sydney ahead of Saturday’s International Double Header the players trained at the Southern Cross Group Stadium in Cronulla finishing up with a 40-minute opposed session against the Sharks.

Having played for Cronulla from 2010 to 2011 Tautai knows only too well what the Sharks are all about.

“It’s weird to be back,” he said.“A lot of things have changed here. The gym has changed and there are a lot of new faces here too but I still know some of the guys that are here from last time too. It’s been a great experience.”

Conditions in the southern Sydney suburb were hot to say the least and peaked at nearly 40 degrees on Wednesday afternoon.

“It was hot out there, really hot!” Tautai continued. “The guys all said the same so I’m glad it’s not just me. I warned them about the heat before we came out but didn’t think it would be this hot. I thought we’d be ok next to the beach but that wasn’t the case today!”

The International Double Header takes place at ANZ Stadium on Saturday

On the advantages of going against Shane Flanagan’s side, Tautai said: “It’s good to do an opposed session, you get to see a different structure. Because of the weather here (in Australia) they play a different style to the way we do so we just try to learn as much as we can and take that into Super League and back home with us.”

Ahead of this weekend’s games, the Wigan forward says the Cherry and Whites are hoping to fly the flag for the club competition. “We’ve three Super League teams playing here against three quality NRL teams so I think we just want to showcase what we can do and also put on some entertaining games for the fans as well.”

Tickets for the first ever double-header games between Super League and NRL teams at a single venue when Wigan face South Sydney Rabbitohs and Hull FC play St George Illawarra Dragons at ANZ Stadium, Sydney on Saturday 17 February, 2018 can be purchased HERE.

The Wigan Warriors and Hull F.C games in Wollongong and Sydney have been secured exclusively by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, in partnership with Destination Wollongong.